The two most dominating personalities of India, Buddha and Gandhi, have dwelt on the notion Ahimhsa as the most important aspect of moral life. There is a definite commonality of ideas and sources of the thought of Buddha and Gandhi. Several important parts of their thinking appear to derive from similar or shared concerns. Both of them adumbrated extensive systems of ethics within which all aspects of their thinking were organized. Ahimsa is the keynote of the ethics of Buddhism. Non-injury in thought word and deed, love, goodwill, patience, endurance, forgiveness, compassion, and self-purification are the virtues to be cultivated. Buddhist morality is the mean between self-indulgence and self-mortification-the middle way. Rama, Krsna. Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Confucius, Mahavira, Jesus, Nanaka, Vivek, Snanda, and other prophets and teachers taught mankind the sanctity and supremacy of spiritual and moral values. Gandhi was intellectual continuum and growth of the moral effervescence represented by these teachers.

Introduction

5

Chapter I:

What is ahimsa?, Historical development of Ahimsa, Theoretical
Justification of non-violence, Use of non-violence is as political strategy, Gandhi and
non-violence.

15-34

Chapter II:

Ahimsa in Buddha, The Historical Buddha, Historical Development of
Buddhism and Ahimsa, Buddhas central teaching, Buddha Apostle of Ahimsa and love, Buddhas
Dhamma-Sila Samadhi, Panna, Nibbana, Buddha and God, Nagarjuna-nibbana, and samsara, Bodhisatta a
being devoted to Enlightenment, The Law of Dependent Origination Paticca- Samuppada, The Doctrine
of Anatta, Buddhist Ethics.

Comparison of the two thought system. Gandhi and Buddha, Gandhis Four
Noble Truths, Hinduism and Buddhism, Gandhi: Society as a field for the application of morality,
gandhis Means and Ends, Summing up-Buddha and Gandhi.

139-300

Chapter V:

Ahimsa in the present world: Conclusion ahimsa and Secularism,
Limitations of Ahimsa Ahimsa in relation to the individual, society, and state, Ahimsas relevance
in the present-day world.